Following the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said this could be the "turning point" in the effort to restrict assault weapons.

17 people were killed and 14 were injured when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday. Cruz reportedly bought the weapon legally in Florida when he was 18.

"I have hunted all my life. I still hunt with my son. But an AR-15 is not for hunting. It's for killing," Nelson said during an appearance in Parkland Friday morning.

If now is not the time to talk about gun violence, when is the time? How many more folks have to die? Let's have a conversation about this right now - not just about mental illness or protecting our schools - let's get to the root cause and get assault weapons off our streets. pic.twitter.com/NIQt0oQtEH

"It is is time for us to start a serious effort to try to wear down the opposition that is not letting us bring up common sense legislation," he added.

He pointed out that in recent years, Congress couldn't even pass a bill that would prohibit people on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns, let alone one that would keep assault weapons out of the hands of "irresponsible people."

"Maybe this will be the turning point. Maybe these students speaking out so boldly as they have on national TV, maybe the parents crying out and speaking so boldly as they have, maybe this will be the turning point because, in fact, enough is enough."

Watch Nelson's remarks above, and let us know what you think in the comments.